MEXICAN RIVIERA BLOG #3

MEXICAN RIVIERA BLOG #3 12 AUGUST 2012 It was amazing! Thank you so much Grandpa for the once in a lifetime trip that I will never forget! Honestly, I can say that my favorite part of the trip altogether, was being able to spend so much time with family. I live the farthest away from everybody, because most of the family is located in the bay area right now. So, living in the LA area, I hardly see my brothers or my cousins anymore, let alone my Grandpa! Tim and I went snorkeling at Lover's beach, and took a pretty awesome boat tour through the different beaches in Cabo San Lucas. This was also a great highlight to the trip. Can't wait to see everyone again! Hopefully for Christmas! NIKKY I have to admit, I was very nervous about my first cruise. I have a genetic predisposition towards worrying (Hi Mom!!) so I found more than a few worries to mull on in the days before we departed. Ironically, the one thing I just didn’t expect was feeling seasick! It definitely took me a few days to get my sea legs. I felt like my brain was in a fog for the first couple days at sea and I was continually bumping into walls. But, after I adjusted, I found the fun and excitement that Grandpa Bill has been blogging about for all these years!! My favorite part of cruising had to be our nightly dinners. Every night we had dinner together at a beautiful table overlooking the ocean. We were served by some amazing and friendly people who knew us by name and remembered our drink orders and coffee preferences after the first night. We were able to try some interesting new foods (although I tended to stick with the chicken) but my favorite part was the conversation. I don’t know how it is even possible, but after so many backpacking trips and holidays Grandpa Bill still has new and interesting stories to share!! Well, new might not be accurate – many were stories from his childhood and the early years of his adult life – but new to us! I really love being able to get to know my grandfather as an adult. I think that is privilege that not many people get. It’s one that I was not able to have with most of my grandparents. During the trip, one of my cousins dubbed Grandpa Bill “The Most Interesting Man in the World” and it is definitely a title that fits. Not many people would have the patience for a rowdy group of 20-somethings ready to party on a cruise, but he embraces it with open arms. I feel like I learned something new about him and from him every day and that is something that I will treasurer forever. It was so amazing getting to bond with Brad, Tim, Nikky and Danny. I think we are all growing up to be such awesome people with varying interests and talents. We spent a lot of time talking about the impressions we had of each other growing up and it’s interesting to see how we have matured since then. So, in closing, I loved the sunshine, margaritas, dancing, comedians, tours and the beautiful ocean views. But, mostly what I’ll remember is the laughter and the stories. I love this tradition of family vacations and I hope it continues!!! JENNIFER This cruise was so so much fun. Getting to know the wait staff, having everyone on the boat know us, laying in the sun, buckets of beer, touring Mexico, dancing for a week straight, and being with family to share it all could not have been any better. I think if I had to pick just one my favorite part of this cruise would be snorkeling at “lovers beach” in Cabo. The fish, the water, the beach were perfect. I thought it was so cool to be able to swim in the Pacific Ocean on one side of the beach and the Sea of Cortez on the other. Definitely an unforgettable experience. TIM What is it about going on vacation that makes me happy? First of all, I was lucky enough to go on a cruise to México and see a beautiful place with people selling me nik naks left and right. Some people get bothered by the constant seller but I also did buy $200 of stuff for only $40. Second, meeting new people every night and all day was a trip in itself. I barely got off the ship and I noticed I had a new friend request on Facebook from one of the people I met. Lastly but most of all, I love spending more time with my new family. Last year we all went on a trip to Cancun and it was amazing meeting everyone for the first time “officially.” But this time now that we have all the introductions out of the way, I wanted to get to know my family on a more intimate level. Tim, Nikki, and Brad all have a strong connection with each other that is entertaining to watch on its own. However, I was being accepted to join the bond they share when Brad is stoked to go out for the “best night ever” at the club with his cheesy smile and while dancing with lots of women. Jennifer and I also made a good connection this trip even after watching each other puke, although she had to endure my “awesome” smell of vomit a few more times than me. Putting this all together leads me to believe that the destination isn’t what’s important. The journey of how we get there is what counts. Even though family is what I think about most, I’m sure that you want to know about the cruise itself. And all I have to say is WOW. Imagine the best hotel you have ever been too and put that on water. Then on top of that there was entertainment all day and all night and great food for every meal. DANIEL The best parts of the trip were the things that we did as a group. The dinners every night and especially the classy dinners; eating lunch at a jungle river in the mountains near Puerto Vallarta; drinks in Cabo; walking around the boat on the sea days. The best of the best was going out at night and tearing down the club. BRAD For a grandfather to have a week alone with his grandchildren, five of eight, is a precious pleasure with which few have been blessed. I’ve been blessed. It was great fun watching each gain his or her “sea legs” and deal with the mal de mer that usually goes with first cruises. It was wonderful seeing the five bond and get to know cousins in a real sense. I was amazed to listen in on dinner conversations and the sharing of their lives and interests and, in the listening, get to know each a little better. And I was pleased for the opportunity to have a “one on one” with each, something that is next to impossible to achieve at family gatherings at holidays. Our trip was definitely the high point of my year and an experience I hope we can repeat in the future. We all hope that Gram and our three missing cousins Acan join us next time. GRANDPA BILL